Alexander Rhind

January 31, 1821 (age 75)

New York City, New York, United States

He entered the United States navy as a midshipman on September 3, 1838, and by 1854 rose to the rank of lieutenant. In the Mexican War he served in the Home Squadron off the coast of Mexico under Commodores Conner and Perry, and participated in the actions at Alvarado and Tabasco. In 1855, while on the John Adams in the Pacific Squadron, because of a disagreement with his commander, he was court-martialed, sent home, and then placed on furlough. In September 1855, he was dropped from the service by the Naval Retiring Board, but was reinstated in 1860. At the beginning of the Civil War he commanded the Crusader in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and conducted a series of operations in Edisto Sound, South Carolina, for which he was commended by the Navy Department. Commissioned lieutenant commander on July 16, 1862, he commanded the Seneca in that year, and the iron-clad Keokuk in 1862-63. Previous to the attack on the forts at Charleston he buoyed the channels, and in the attack on April 7, 1863, he ran the Keokuk within 550 yards of Fort Sumter, where his vessel was hit ninety times in thirty minutes, nineteen of the shots penetrating below the water-line. Obliged to withdraw from action, he kept her afloat until the next morning, and was able to save his entire crew. As commander of the Paul Jones, and later, in command of the flagship Wabash, he took part in the attacks on Fort Wagner and other Charleston defenses. During Grant's "hammering campaign" he commanded the gunboat Agawam in the James River, cooperating with the army. For gallant conduct in the bombardment of three Confederate batteries at Deep Bottom, Virginia, in August 1864, he was again commended by the Department. In the first attack on Fort Fisher he was assigned to the Louisiana which was loaded with 215 tons of explosives and which he anchored within 250 to 300 yards of the fort. The ship was then blown up by a clockwork device, Rhind escaping with his men before the explosion. The fort, however, remained unscathed. For this action Admiral Porter recommended him for promotion, characterizing it "the most perilous adventure that was perhaps ever undertaken". After the war Rhind differed sharply over his management of this affair with Gen. Benjamin Butler, who had originated the scheme. Though assigned to relatively unimportant duties after the war, he rose successively through the grades of captain and commodore to the rank of rear admiral in 1883, when he was permanently retired. He was of a retiring nature, reticent particularly on the subject of his adventurous career. He died in New York City and was buried at Coldenham, New York.

Alexander Colden Rhind

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naval officer

Background

Alexander Colden Rhind was born October 31, 1821 in New York City. He was the son of Charles and Susan (Fell) Rhind.

Education

During the years 1844-45, he attended the naval school at Philadelphia.

Career

He entered the United States navy as a midshipman on September 3, 1838, and by 1854 rose to the rank of lieutenant.

In the Mexican War he served in the Home Squadron off the coast of Mexico under Commodores Conner and Perry, and participated in the actions at Alvarado and Tabasco. In 1855, while on the John Adams in the Pacific Squadron, because of a disagreement with his commander, he was court-martialed, sent home, and then placed on furlough.

In September 1855, he was dropped from the service by the Naval Retiring Board, but was reinstated in 1860. At the beginning of the Civil War he commanded the Crusader in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron, and conducted a series of operations in Edisto Sound, South Carolina, for which he was commended by the Navy Department.

Commissioned lieutenant commander on July 16, 1862, he commanded the Seneca in that year, and the iron-clad Keokuk in 1862-63. Previous to the attack on the forts at Charleston he buoyed the channels, and in the attack on April 7, 1863, he ran the Keokuk within 550 yards of Fort Sumter, where his vessel was hit ninety times in thirty minutes, nineteen of the shots penetrating below the water-line. Obliged to withdraw from action, he kept her afloat until the next morning, and was able to save his entire crew.

As commander of the Paul Jones, and later, in command of the flagship Wabash, he took part in the attacks on Fort Wagner and other Charleston defenses. During Grant's "hammering campaign" he commanded the gunboat Agawam in the James River, cooperating with the army. For gallant conduct in the bombardment of three Confederate batteries at Deep Bottom, Virginia, in August 1864, he was again commended by the Department. In the first attack on Fort Fisher he was assigned to the Louisiana which was loaded with 215 tons of explosives and which he anchored within 250 to 300 yards of the fort.

The ship was then blown up by a clockwork device, Rhind escaping with his men before the explosion. The fort, however, remained unscathed. For this action Admiral Porter recommended him for promotion, characterizing it "the most perilous adventure that was perhaps ever undertaken". After the war Rhind differed sharply over his management of this affair with Gen. Benjamin Butler, who had originated the scheme.

Though assigned to relatively unimportant duties after the war, he rose successively through the grades of captain and commodore to the rank of rear admiral in 1883, when he was permanently retired.

He was of a retiring nature, reticent particularly on the subject of his adventurous career. He died in New York City and was buried at Coldenham, New York.

Achievements

He was a prominent naval officer who served during the Mexican - American War and American Civil War.

Personality

During his early service he acquired a reputation for insubordination, due to frequent unguarded criticisms of his superiors. His war record, however, was brilliant. Gideon Welles described him as "impulsive but brave and rash".

Connections

He was unmarried.

Father:: Charles Rhind
Mother:: Susan (Fell) Rhind

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Alexander Rhind

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Alexander Colden Rhind

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